Abstract
Mechanized timber harvesting is cost efficient and highly productive. However, mechanized harvesting operations are often associated with several environmental problems, including soil compaction and disturbance. Soil compaction impedes air circulation between the soil and atmosphere, which in turn results in increased concentrations of CO2 within soil pores. In this study, we investigated the impact of forest machine traffic on soil conditions to determine soil CO2 efflux (Fc), and soil CO2 concentrations (Sc). Field measurements included soil bulk density (BD), soil temperature (ST), soil water content (SWC), Fc, and Sc over a 3-year period at a specific thinning operation site (Hwacheon-gun) in the Gangwon Province of Korea. To assess the soil impacts associated with machine traffic, we established four machine-treatment plots (MT) characterized by different geographical and traffic conditions. The results revealed that BD, Sc, and SWC increased significantly on the disturbed track areas (p < 0.05). Furthermore, reduced soil Fc values were measured on the soil-compacted (machine disturbed) tracks in comparison with undisturbed (control) areas. Variations in BD, SWC, and Sc were significantly different among the four MT plots. Additionally, in comparison with undisturbed areas, lower Fc and higher Sc values were obtained in compacted areas with high soil temperatures.
Highlights
IntroductionHeavy machine traffic during harvesting operations can cause disturbance to soil ecosystems, which results in long-term impacts on soil production [2]
Mechanized equipment is necessary for more efficient harvesting operations [1]
Soil porosity decreases in soils with increased bulk density (BD), which results in higher soil water content (SWC) values [12,40]
Summary
Heavy machine traffic during harvesting operations can cause disturbance to soil ecosystems, which results in long-term impacts on soil production [2]. Soil compaction is one of the major negative impacts associated with forest machinery traffic [3,4]. Heavy machine traffic may cause more severe soil compaction in forests than in croplands, since it involves machine traffic as well as the cutting, pulling, pushing, lifting, and transport of timber during the harvesting operation [2]. DeArmond et al [6] found persistent compaction after a period of 30 years following logging operations. It has been reported that soil biological disturbance can be recovered within 20 years in sandy neutral soil following compaction [7]
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